Pickleball Legend Leads Clinic for Adaptive Athletes on World Pickleball Day
Pickleball, the fastest growing sport in the world, has made its way to wheelchair and adaptive athletes in Grand Rapids. October 10 was World Pickleball Day, and a legend of the sport paid Grand Rapids a visit to host an adaptive pickleball clinic with Mary Free Bed for athletes with disabilities. The legend was Seymour […]
Championing Blind and Visually Impaired Individuals through Blindness Awareness Month
Cleanlogic, the inclusive and socially conscious beauty brand that has pioneered the use of functional braille across all its product packaging since 2001, announces its campaign to shine a light on Blindness Awareness Month this October. The goal of this partnership is to recognize and support the over 25 million people in the U.S. who […]
After His Spinal Cord Injury, Tom Maher’s Community Gives Back
Tom Maher is a problem solver. He has always taken great pride in being part of solutions for others. Now, his community is returning the favor. In July, Tom was driving his motorcycle to work when he was struck by a drunk driver. He suffered severe spinal cord injuries and was rushed to Bronson for […]
We Have a Little Faith! Mary Free Bed Welcomes Second Animal-Assisted Therapy Dog
Our newest team member gives patients a gentle nudge on their road to recovery Faith, a 3-year-old golden retriever is joining Vandy, Mary Free Bed’s current facility dog, to help restore hope and freedom through rehabilitation. Both Vandy and Faith are trained Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) dogs who work to help patients meet rehabilitation goals and […]
3 Kids, 12 Helmets, Globetrotting Family Makes Cranial Remolding Journey Fun
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Or in one family’s case, cranial remolding helmets. The Anderson family has been making the most out of a condition they’re all too familiar with. They have four children – Emily, 14, Lydia, 12, James 3, and Jeven, 18 months, and three of them were born with craniosynostosis. […]
National Rehabilitation Awareness Week: Recognizing Rehabilitation Care
This week is National Rehabilitation Awareness Week. The first ever National Rehabilitation Awareness week started in 1976, and it’s grown into a national initiative dedicated to: Highlighting the positive impact rehabilitation has on the lives of patients Educating others on of the benefits that rehabilitation program can provide Recognizing everyone deserves to live their life […]
Crossing Finish Lines Together: Hayley’s Making Strides in her Stroke Recovery
A single word can say it all. In Hayley’s case – it was two: “Alive” and “better.” Those were the words Hayley Zabik, of Kalamazoo, first communicated to her family in the ICU. Last February, 26-year-old Hayley’s parents got an early morning phone call. Hayley hadn’t arrived at work that day, which was unusual for […]
Help Us Bloom: Growing the Healing Journey at Mary Free Bed
Horticulture therapy is among the many recreational therapy interventions offered at Mary Free Bed. Our outdoor therapy garden provides patients the opportunity to focus on functional skills, learn and explore gardening, practice getting back to their favorite hobby at home and take time to connect with nature. Following an injury or illness, our rehabilitation teams […]
MFB Camp Instructor Competes with Team USA in World Championship
Gabe Den Braber, a 22-year-old from Grand Rapids, is competing with Team USA at the Men’s U23 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship in Thailand. Gabe was born with spina bifida, a condition in which the spinal cord didn’t form properly and has affected his lower limbs and his ability to walk. In 2014, when Gabe was […]
World PT Day Spotlights Osteoarthritis
September 8th is World Physical Therapy (PT) Day, giving us another opportunity to recognize the work of physical therapists and their positive impact on patients in pain. This year, World PT Day sheds education and light on osteoarthritis – the most common type of arthritis. It’s a joint condition affecting millions of people worldwide, and […]
Mary Free Bed Named Top Rehabilitation Hospital by Newsweek for 3rd Year
For the third straight year, Mary Free Bed has been recognized as one of America’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers by Newsweek health care analysts. The rankings are based on scores for quality of care, service, follow-up treatment and accommodations/amenities. Clinician recommendations were also included in the calculations. Newsweek looked at all 50 states and spotlighted […]
Ms. Wheelchair America Crowns Winner After Week-Long Competition
Congratulations to this year’s competitors vying for the title of Ms. Wheelchair America. These 21 powerful, inspiring women traveled from across the United States to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and came together for a national competition. Following the week-long competition, Ali Ingersoll of Raleigh, North Carolina, was crowned Ms. Wheelchair America 2023. Ingersoll sustained a spinal […]
Inspiring Women Compete for the Title of Ms. Wheelchair America
It’s finally here! The national competition is back in Grand Rapids. After being canceled in 2020 and taking place virtually in 2021, the national Ms. Wheelchair America competition is back and in-person in. Twenty-two inspiring contestants from across the United States are contending for the crown and title of Ms. Wheelchair America. WHEN: August 15-21 […]
Meet the Ms. Wheelchair America Contestants
We’re less than a week away from the Ms. Wheelchair America National Competition! The event will be held in person in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is sponsored by the Mary Free Bed Guild. This year, 22 inspiring contestants from across the United States are contending for the 2023 title of Ms. Wheelchair America in the […]
The Ms. Wheelchair America Competition is Back In-Person
After being canceled in 2020 and taking place virtually in 2021, the national Ms. Wheelchair America competition is back and in-person this year. Twenty-two contestants from across the United States are contending for the title of Ms. Wheelchair America, in this the 51st year of annual event. Unlike traditional beauty pageants, Ms. Wheelchair America is […]
Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp is in Session
Fifty kids with varying abilities are preparing for the much-awaited summer tradition of Mary Free Bed’s Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp. Campers ages 7-18 will participate in sports like lacrosse, kayaking and basketball. Campers and staff alike look forward to this week every year for the unique opportunity to spend time enjoying adaptive activities with their […]
Mary Free Bed Staff Lay Wreath at Presidential Ceremony
To commemorate President Gerald R. Ford’s 109th birthday, members of the Ford family and his Historical Legacy Trust conducted a wreath laying ceremony at his tomb on the grounds of the Ford Presidential Museum. The ceremony included presentation of wreaths on behalf of President Joe Biden, the Ford family and two clinicians from Mary Free […]
Going the Distance for Baby Rowan
Last August, at nearly 27 weeks gestation, the Bouman twins were born in Marquette, Michigan. Baby Rowan weighed just 1 pound 13 ounces. Her brother Noah, although bigger and deemed healthier, died unexpectedly from sepsis when he was only 8 days old. During her early time in the hospital, little Rowan experienced severe bleeding on […]
Governor Announces a Health Care First for Michigan Children
Governor Gretchen Whitmer today announced plans to build the state’s first children’s rehabilitation hospital. Through a joint operating agreement, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital and Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital are partnering to bring a shared vision to life in the thriving health care landscape of Grand Rapids. The new hospital will be built […]
Tournament Brings Wheelchair Tennis Athletes to Grand Rapids
Wheelchair tennis athletes are competing in Grand Rapids at the 2022 Midwest Wheelchair Tennis Championship, presented by Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports. This highly competitive, local tournament hosts athletes with inspiring stories and all levels of experience – from beginners to professionals. New this year, the tournament has added standing adaptive divisions for […]
Breathing Easier: Hannah Blumka Makes a Remarkable COVID-19 Recovery
Last December, 17-year-old Hannah Blumka arrived at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital fighting for her life. Before contracting COVID-19, Hannah was a healthy, lively teenage girl. The infection quickly and unexpectedly took a toll on every system in her body. Within a day of arrival at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, she was placed on life-support – […]
Wheelchair Softball Action was Back with a Tournament in Grand Rapids
America’s favorite pastime is in full swing, and last weekend’s tournament was a home run for everyone. After a four-year hiatus, the Mary Free Bed Wheelchair Softball Tournament had a full lineup and knocked it out of the park. The tournament was hosted at the Mary Free Bed YMCA and played on their outdoor wheelchair […]
Like Father, Like Son: Drs. VandenBerg Celebrate Seven Generations of Care
After more than three decades of caring for patients at Mary Free Bed, Dr. Chris VandenBerg will be hanging up his white coat. Dr. VandenBerg specializes in cancer rehabilitation, traumatic and non-traumatic neurological impairments (spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke and multiple sclerosis) and spasticity/dystonia – and in his time here, he’s touched countless lives. […]
New Mary Free Bed PM+R Residency Program Graduates
The next generation of physicians is ready to help rebuild patient’s lives after graduating from Mary Free Bed’s Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency. This month, three physicians will finish their post-graduate training at Mary Free Bed’s advanced PM+R Residency Program. Mary Free Bed’s residency includes clinical, educational and research opportunities in all areas of physical […]
Local Golfers Hit the Fairway FORE! a Great Cause
The 2022 Mary Fee Bed Open was another enjoyable and successful day the course! Despite a few sprinkles and the chance of rain throughout the day, the golfing community showed up. The Mary Free Bed Open sells out annually, and this year was no exception. We welcomed 220 community members representing 50 area businesses and […]
Local Paralympian Honored at Mary Free Bed Golf Outing
During a break in play at the annual Mary Free Bed Open golf outing, long-time coach and athlete Lee Montgomery was surprised and honored with the announcement of a sponsorship fund in his name. The Lee Montgomery Athlete Assistance Fund was established thanks to the generosity of The Meijer Foundation. Montgomery is a former employee […]
She Said Yes! Patient Proposed to at Mary Free Bed While Awaiting Transplant
Her journey involves seven different hospitals, weeks in the ICU on ECMO, and now rehabilitation while waiting for a double lung transplant – but Kaitlyn Sterling is still all smiles. And she has a big reason to smile. Stan, her boyfriend of 5 years, just proposed. And Kaitlin said, “Yes!” Click through to see photos […]
Wheelchair & Handcycles Pumped and Ready for 45th Amway River Bank Run
After two years, the 45th Amway River Bank Run is back in May, and the wheelchair and handcycle athletes couldn’t be more excited and ready to compete. Over 35 wheelchair and handcycle athletes from across the United States, Canada and Spain will travel to Grand Rapids to race on Saturday. The largest road race in […]
Rising Sled Hockey Star Moves Towards His Paralympic Dreams
Taggart VanderMolen is on the move. He was a toddler when he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) and began working with specialists at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. Today the Fruitport, Michigan, native is 19. And he’s on the cusp of realizing his dream to play sled hockey for Team USA. A RISING STAR […]
Mary Free Bed Kids Celebrate Diversity Month in the Kitchen
In recognition of Diversity Month, patients at Mary Free Bed Kids celebrated with a culinary twist! All month long, six teenagers who are patients at Mary Free Bed’s pediatric inpatient program in Grand Rapids along with their parents and staff, celebrated different heritages in the Mary Free Bed therapy kitchen. Each week, the creative team […]